I want a 24" Apple cinema display to go with a new iMac that doesn't cost £600+ and come with what would be redundant speakers, microphone and camera.

that display was designed for use with a laptop. in particular with being able to stow it closed. this the speakers etc are not redundant. so expect them to stick around

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cubert

Announcement Tuesday with availability by Friday at the latest.

i'm going to see that and raise you a 'silent' update on the website overnight Monday/Tuesday with models arriving at stores starting on Tuesday afternoon with all stores having all models by the weekend

Where did you get that DVD burning was a major selling point of iLife in CE 2009? Check out the iLife page.

While they still include iDVD in the suite, it hasnt gotten any rich updates in sometime and they only showcase the other 4 apps (iPhoto, iMovie, Garageband and iWeb) from that page. There is only one link that leads to iDVD.

On top of that we have an unchanged 32-bit version of DVD Player in Snow Leopard and DVD Studio Pro hasnt been updated in 2 years despite the other pro apps in Final Cut Studio getting regular updates.

and given this with the 'bag of hurt' and the addition of the SD slots on the last laptop refresh. plus the recent itunes movie extras and folks keep expecting blu-ray built in on the next round of computers. yeah, right. be happy if you get software for play back off an external, cause that's all you might get

Quote:

Originally Posted by joe in miami

I hope the new one [wireless] includes a number pad.

don't hold your breathe. the drawings off the FCC are too short for a number pad

Quote:

Originally Posted by teckstud

We will get it- Apple has realized the error of their ways. Al Gore or no Al Gore.
The MacBook Pro adoption of matte points right to this very issue

actually Apple is likely to have sales figures that show that there was not a massive 'adoption' of matte when it was an in store in the box option. not on anything below the two price points they made currently available. this custom order business is likely more a placebo, shut up the naysayers. but we'll see in the next go around if they start actually making anything else ready to pick up in the stores or not. if they don't it is likely due to a lack of sales to support a notion of interest.

Honestly, the iMacs are great computers already, and I can't wait for this next update. But without a matte or anti-glare option, I will never buy it.

It's fantastic for all of you who love or can tolerate the glossy screen. But for those of us who don't, it's unfortunate that the option is not there yet.

The glossy is there because they are using glass, which isn't going to change any time soon. There are advantages to using glass that far outweigh the tiny portion of the market that won't buy one because it's too glossy. There isn't a hope in hell they will ever make an iMac with a plastic front or something of that nature so we are stuck with the glass for the foreseeable future.

So ... the only way there will ever, ever, ever, be a "matte option" is if they put some kind of anti-glare or film finish over the top of the glass which is already available from third parties anyway. So it's way more likely that Apple will never actually make one like you want, but on the other hand, you could have one tomorrow if you go the third party route.

Which is way way too overspecced. I don't need 8 DIMM slots. I don't need 4 drive bays. I don't want to spend a year's savings in the middle of a recession.

I twice-as-high Mac Mini would suffice.

A twice as high Mini that has what you want would also very likely overlap in price with iMacs and cannibalize sales of those. Unless Apple abandons the iMac concept as it's midrange desktop solution, which doesn't seem likely at present, you simply aren't going to see a small tower in between the current Mini and Pro.

actually Apple is likely to have sales figures that show that there was not a massive 'adoption' of matte when it was an in store in the box option. not on anything below the two price points they made currently available. this custom order business is likely more a placebo, shut up the naysayers. but we'll see in the next go around if they start actually making anything else ready to pick up in the stores or not. if they don't it is likely due to a lack of sales to support a notion of interest.

Actually Apple more than likely added glass to up their "green" rating as has been documented was a low as could be. Al Gore on the Board of Directors of Apple made it an inconvenient truth for Mac users to only get glossy for 2 years. Apple realized that many of us were not biting the BS and simply were not buying new Macs. NOw we finally will be able to but a new matte iMac, I suspect.
It behooved Apple to sell more glassy & glossy and keep their "green" rating high. Thank you Al Gore.

The glossy is there because they are using glass, which isn't going to change any time soon. There are advantages to using glass that far outweigh the tiny portion of the market that won't buy one because it's too glossy. There isn't a hope in hell they will ever make an iMac with a plastic front or something of that nature so we are stuck with the glass for the foreseeable future.

So ... the only way there will ever, ever, ever, be a "matte option" is if they put some kind of anti-glare or film finish over the top of the glass which is already available from third parties anyway. So it's way more likely that Apple will never actually make one like you want, but on the other hand, you could have one tomorrow if you go the third party route.

The only advantage to glass is that it up Apple's "Green" rating- nothing more or less. Total BS.

Well, glass is easier to clean and less susceptible to damage, just to point out two other advantages.

?? The disadvantage of glass is that you need to clean it more often due to more smudges. Never had a damaged matte screen on my iMac or Powerbook- ever. However I've seen many a scratched glass screen at a Best Buy.

?? The disadvantage of glass is that you need to clean it more often due to more smudges. Never had a damaged matte screen on my iMac or Powerbook- ever. However I've seen many a scratched glass screen at a Best Buy.

My experience is exactly the opposite of yours. So, who's right? (Well, we already know you think you are, but that was a rhetorical question.) At the very least, the situation is ambiguous. But, also at the very least, your absolute assertion regarding only a single advantage for glass overstates the point by a considerable amount.

My experience is exactly the opposite of yours. So, who's right? (Well, we already know you think you are, but that was a rhetorical question.) At the very least, the situation is ambiguous. But, also at the very least, your absolute assertion regarding only a single advantage for glass overstates the point by a considerable amount.

Dude - I haven't even mentioned all the disadvantages to glass regarding documented visual distortions, placement and constant repositioning of the screen, etc. , so give it up already.
One advantage? You really are delusional and not worth debating on a beautiful Sunday here in NYC. Off on my bike now with my glossy, glassy iPhone, the only situation where glass is acceptable- TOUCHSCREEN.

I wonder if Apple will introduce a wireless keyboard and mouse with a built-in rechargeable battery. You could connect to a USB port and charge the battery (just like the iPhone) as well as make it work like a wired keyboard (or mouse) while it is charging.

I am tired of replacing the batteries every couple of days in my wireless keyboard and mouse.

Assuming that optical drives do eventually go away, your order is likely correct (except perhaps for the position of the mini, which should perhaps be before the MBP), but the schedule is far too ambitious, I think. I think we are still quite a few years away from the necessary bandwidth being plentiful and inexpensive enough that the network replaces optical as a medium.

The situation is not really the same as eliminating the floppy drive. Other than supporting legacy disks, the floppy wasn't really necessary any more. Optical drives could do pretty much anything a floppy drive could and cheaper. Pretty much all software was already shipping on optical and it was cheaper to do so, and floppy disks were not used for anything outside of the personal computer industry.

Today, optical has not yet been effectively superseded by another medium and it has uses -- music, video -- besides being strictly a data storage and software distribution medium. Consumer bandwidth is not increasing significantly at this point, nor is geographical availability. In fact, rather than building out networks, ISPs are looking at usage caps and higher and tiered rate structures. (Wired, ISPs, at least, and the wireless carriers are nowhere near being able to provide the necessary bandwidth.)

Based on the current situation, I think your schedule would probably need to be at least doubled. Unless there's a major shakeup in the broadband industry, the network isn't going to be fast enough and ubiquitous enough that it can effectively replace optical for several years, at least, and eliminating optical drives would be problematic for many consumers. And, I don't really see another medium that's cheap enough and widely enough used that would replace optical either.

The few users who will need an optical drive a few years from now can simply get an external drive.

Dude - I haven't even mentioned all the disadvantages to glass regarding documented visual distortions, placement and constant repositioning of the screen, etc. , so give it up already.
One advantage? You really are delusional and not worth debating on a beautiful Sunday here in NYC. Off on my bike now with my glossy, glassy iPhone, the only situation where glass is acceptable- TOUCHSCREEN.

Apple should bring back the black macbook, sell it with 250gb hd 4gb ram 2.26ghz or 2.53 for around 1000 to 1200, plastic better for students cause aluminum scratches and dents a lot easier and black cause its a lot cooler than white

The glossy is there because they are using glass, which isn't going to change any time soon.

This is something I'd expect from Dell.

What happened to the Apple that invested in their product? If something needs changing then CHANGE it. Keeping with a disliked product because a redesign would be too costly is straight from the playbook of General Motors.

Quote:

There are advantages to using glass that far outweigh the tiny portion of the market that won't buy one because it's too glossy.

I didn't know that seeing your own reflection was an advantage...

Quote:

There isn't a hope in hell they will ever make an iMac with a plastic front or something of that nature so we are stuck with the glass for the foreseeable future.

I'm writing this on an early Core Duo iMac with a beautiful, quality matte screen (far and away the best computer I've ever owned, I should've bought two at the time!). Why is Apple completely unable to produce such a machine today?

Apple should bring back the black macbook, sell it with 250gb hd 4gb ram 2.26ghz or 2.53 for around 1000 to 1200, plastic better for students cause aluminum scratches and dents a lot easier and black cause its a lot cooler than white

I think that is a good idea, though offer the option of a SSD as well. That said, I prefer the aluminum.

I wonder if Apple will introduce a wireless keyboard and mouse with a built-in rechargeable battery. You could connect to a USB port and charge the battery (just like the iPhone) as well as make it work like a wired keyboard (or mouse) while it is charging.

I am tired of replacing the batteries every couple of days in my wireless keyboard and mouse.

Apple could claim a few more Green points.

You are right that its greener for Apple to use rechargeable batteries. The idea of a USB port to charge it from time to time seems a little pointless over just using that USB port and cable plugged in all the time for constant power and use. Perhaps the iMac itself can have inductive charging on the base and you place the keyboard on this the pedestal by sliding it under the display a bit when you are not using it to initiate the charging. This does leave the mouse out, so perhaps a mouse pad that also doubles as a charging plate or build a multitouch trackpad into the keyboard.

(This latter idea will not sit well with many you still prefer the mouse or are left handed. I prefer the touchpad and I think the extra-large, buttonless glass trackpad will eventually also be for visual output, not just mutli-touch input.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by mcarling

The few users who will need an optical drive a few years from now can simply get an external drive.

And well before that becomes an issue there will be plenty of other PC that will have internal optical drives.

Quote:

Originally Posted by se99jmk

I was planning on ordering a new MBP tomorrow, but given the excitement over the refresh to the rest of the lines, is the MBP likely to be updated too?

It seems that if they update the Macbook, then it places it close in terms of specs to the MBP, and Apple would need to update the MBP to give people a reason to get the top of the line.

Also of course Apple would love to steal thunder from the Windows 7 launch, another good reason to update everything and hit Microsoft hard..

------------------------------

So, should I purchase a new MBP tomorrow, or wait until the 14th?

SO excited about getting my new toy...

The number of reasonable sounding rumors, the fact that Apple has been having a Mac special event each fall for years now makes me think one will be coming soon. My guess is Tuesday, Oct. 13th, the same day as last year. That would mean an announcement by the end of the week.

There is just too much stuff for a silent release, which is really just a speed bump and/or price drop without any other real changes. If the Mac Mini gets a simple bump and price drop then it may silently hit their site early before the event as weve seen before.

My worry is that this will affect everything but the MBPs which are only about halfway through their typical cycle. Since Clarkfields TDP is currently too high for the MBPs at this time (without a major re-engineering), Apple may be waiting for the 32nm Arrandale to come out next year before making the switch.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Especially the beautifull contrast of the black border with the white casing

That sounds pretty good, but I wonder if they will use a milled aluminum frame with plastic tops and bottoms. This will reduce cost of the milling while still giving a nice rigid frame for the internals. You still get a two-tone setup that could eventually be in multiple colours like the Nano, since this would seem to be appealing to a less professional crowd. I even like the idea that the aluminium rim has the same dark anodizing as the new Nanos against a black plastic case or other colours. It could look pretty slick while still being inexpensive.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

I wonder if Apple will introduce a wireless keyboard and mouse with a built-in rechargeable battery. You could connect to a USB port and charge the battery (just like the iPhone) as well as make it work like a wired keyboard (or mouse) while it is charging.

I am tired of replacing the batteries every couple of days in my wireless keyboard and mouse.

Apple could claim a few more Green points.

Get a battery charger. You'll still have to change the batteries, but it'll be cheaper.

My worry is that this will affect everything but the MBPs which are only about halfway through their typical cycle. Since Clarkfields TDP is currently too high for the MBPs at this time (without a major re-engineering), Apple may be waiting for the 32nm Arrandale to come out next year before making the switch.

Get a battery charger. You'll still have to change the batteries, but it'll be cheaper.

Unless it came with the charger and the batteries its not really Apple being green. On top of that, having the excess components and the unfortunate ease in which to through any defunct batteries into any refuse pile takes away from the effort. I think it will have to be a solution that doesnt require removing the batteries.

At the very least (speculatively speaking) having the bottom, left edge of the iMac be a trap door for recharging the batteries. But not your typical AA style, but a wafer thin LiPolyIon that can be popped out and interchanged between keyboards, mice and remotes. (Just brainstorming here)

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Id wait until the next Mac special event to take place. Even if they did a price drop or increased some other components without a major MBP overhaul it might be worth it to wait. Of course, if you cant wait a week or two to see if any even is going to arise then you should buy the machine that you want and need.

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

Thinner sounds bad. The desktop is going to have to rely even more on laptop components. I'm not looking forward to seeing laptop hard drives, graphics cards, processors and optical drives in Apple's $1000 - $2200 desktop range.

The current iMac is bad enough, it's a total joke. I built my desktop PC two and a half years ago for half the cost of a current top end iMac, and it has quad core, 4gb RAM, 2tb of HD storage, and a proper desktop class GPU. Plus dual eSATA ports, memory card readers, and various other extras.

I'd love to buy an iMac but with the components in it I wouldn't pay half of what Apple is charging. It's a relic, a blast from the past, and it needs a total redesign to allow it to use some modern components. The PC market moves quickly, but the iMac isn't so much lagging behind as collapsed on the floor waiting for an ambulance.

The current iMac is bad enough, it's a total joke. I built my desktop PC two and a half years ago for half the cost of a current top end iMac, and it has quad core, 4gb RAM, 2tb of HD storage, and a proper desktop class GPU. Plus dual eSATA ports, memory card readers, and various other extras.

I'd love to buy an iMac but with the components in it I wouldn't pay half of what Apple is charging. It's a relic, a blast from the past, and it needs a total redesign to allow it to use some modern components. The PC market moves quickly, but the iMac isn't so much lagging behind as collapsed on the floor waiting for an ambulance.

Apple should either fix it, or put it out of it's misery.

An AIO is a relic compared to a desktop you put together yourself? I haven’t built a machine since the mid 90s and consider anyone who feels this is an ideal solution for the average person to be “a relic”. Notebooks are the market segment that are growing and Apple’s AIOs are the only desktop segment that appear to be increasing in popularity. Most of the us aren’t or are no longer homebrew users who want to find cheap components online that we then have to find shabby drivers for to get a working box. Which we then put in a huge case with neon lights with over-clocked CPUs and anything else that may make our PC the envy of our friends. Nope, most of use want something that just works and works well.

PS: i Also prefer to drive a Mercedes and not a souped-up, bombastically sounding, ornately painted Honda Civic that can take turns sharper because of an ugly-ass wing on the back and technically do 0-60 faster than my Merc

Dick Applebaum on whether the iPad is a personal computer: "BTW, I am posting this from my iPad pc while sitting on the throne... personal enough for you?"

The current iMac is bad enough, it's a total joke. I built my desktop PC two and a half years ago for half the cost of a current top end iMac, and it has quad core, 4gb RAM, 2tb of HD storage, and a proper desktop class GPU. Plus dual eSATA ports, memory card readers, and various other extras.

I'd love to buy an iMac but with the components in it I wouldn't pay half of what Apple is charging. It's a relic, a blast from the past, and it needs a total redesign to allow it to use some modern components. The PC market moves quickly, but the iMac isn't so much lagging behind as collapsed on the floor waiting for an ambulance.

Apple should either fix it, or put it out of it's misery.

And here I thought Apple went to Intel to stay on top since Motorola/IBM wasn't giving them the refresh they wanted. Seriously, the 9600 GPU is weak in comparison to other computers that are less than the iMac, not to mention the Dual Core processor in a Desktop? You can find Dual Core computers for roughly 300 bucks at around the same speed as the iMac!

I too have a desktop with Quad Core, 4gb RAM, 1tb and decent graphics. It cost me about half that of the iMac. Still under 800 bucks if you include the monitor! If Apple went to Desktop parts, increased the size of the enclosure (they could still make it look cool though!) to accommodate for desktop parts and cooling, they could STILL sell the machines at the same prices as they currently do, and make even MORE of a profit margin than using weak laptop parts.

I figure that's not in the cards. Ever. Apple only makes laptops these days with the two exceptions: Mac Pro and XServe (which I think will be phased out soon enough)

iMac Air would be the most useless gimmick in recent computing history.

As most people have said, it makes almost difference whether their desktop is 1" or 3" thick. The SPEED and overall features are what matter most in a desktop that is already compact like the current iMac.

The iMac Air name only makes sense if it is used to differentiate a thinner model from a thicker model with, presumably, beefier insides. Unfortunately, there's no ad for that machine. That may just mean that ad didn't get leaked.